A Financial Post opinion article titled “We need better welding education in schools” brings attention to a problem many welding professionals already know: industry wants skilled, job-ready people, but many schools are still teaching with limited tools and old setups. The topic is especially relevant for welding because the skills gap starts long before hiring day.

The labour shortage isn’t new, but if governments and industry keep pursuing short-term fixes, it won’t be any better in 10 years. - Susan Crowley is executive director of the CWB Foundation.

The strongest part of this discussion is the data behind it. CWB Foundation reports that more than 40% of secondary school welding programs need equipment upgrades, and nearly half struggle to get essential consumables. It also says funding is limited, even with support programs and co-investment from industry and education partners.

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This is not only a capacity issue; it is also a safety and training quality issue. A 2025 safety report linked to the same ecosystem shows PPE shortages, safety problems in assessed labs, and a larger demand for funding than current programs can cover. For welding shops and manufacturers, that means the talent pipeline depends on what happens in school labs today.

Source:

Opinion: We need better welding education in schools
Canada needs more skilled trades but lack of tools and money mean most schools give students a poor introduction to modern welding. Read on.
Financial PostSpecial to Financial Post